Gambia’s Feared NIA Renamed, Stripped Of Powers

(JollofNews) – Gambia’s feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has been renamed the State Intelligence Services (SIS) and stripped of all its powers to arrest, detain and torture suspects.

It comes as new President Adama Barrow pledged reforms of the state institution which was widely feared and hated by Gambians due to its fearsome reputation under erstwhile ruler Yahya Jammeh as an agent of torture and death.

The new government issued a statement read on state television on Tuesday evening, confirming that the new SIS is now devoid of its former mandate to conduct actions that are deemed violations of the law.

According to the government statement the SIS have now been mandated to tackle issues of state intelligence but will not be effecting arrests and detentions and will respect human rights including that of journalists, activists, politicians and ordinary Gambians.

Under Jammeh the then NIA was one of the most feared institutions in The Gambia and was synonymous with state-sanctioned arbitrary arrests, torture, deaths and disappearances especially of political opponents and journalists.

Jammeh who was defeated in polls last month and forced into exile after refusing to concede has been widely accused of using NIA operatives to crack down on opponents during his 22-year rule.

His successor Barrow has promised to investigate the exact scale of the alleged atrocities committed by the NIA and other state security institutions.

Despite widespread relief following political change, many Gambians are still demanding answers to questions about political detainees still unaccounted, a distressing situation blamed on the NIA.

13 thoughts on “Gambia’s Feared NIA Renamed, Stripped Of Powers”

NIA should be completely disbanded. It is group of thugs,murderers and rapists. There should be no place for them in the new Gambia if we are to honor the sacrifice made by Sandeng and the other detainees who were killed,raped,tortured and those made to disappeared without trace.They are remnants of a tyrannical regime and no name change can absolve them from being anything other than what they are … THUGS.

Not every one in NIA is cruel and evil just the way you put it to be. You think that way because your heart is full of evil abd vengence. The new gambia have government have already tailor perified name to sis, now he could only re structure the administration and the working methodology if neccessary to change its leaders.

Mr Barrow is either naïve or not realistic if he thinks that changing the name alone is what is need to solve the issue regarding the defunct NIA. Mr Barrow needs to understand the depth of anger and mistrust the Gambian people have towards the security services especially the former NIA. If he thinks that it is enough just to change the name and say to the agents that they cannot arrest people then he must be living on a parallel universe. He is elected to make effective institutional restructuring of both the civil service and the security services so that the Gambia works for everyone not just a privileged few. So far he has failed to demonstrate that he can deliver that change. People are not expecting him to deliver massive infrastructural developments but to put structures and systems in place that will allow the next government and the Gambian people to move the nation forward. That will not happen if he doesn’t want to upset the status quo. I have said it before and I will say it again, Mr Barrow should put some senior civil and security personnel on administrative leave whilst the extent of their knowledge and involvement in alleged human rights abuses and economic crimes are determine. Anyone who is exonerated can then returned to their posts or given a promotion. This will demonstrate to all Gambians especially the young ones that patriotism, hard work and honesty do really pay and that in the new Gambia there is no room for dishonesty and cronyism. I know some people will say lets give them time but time is not waiting for us and moreover Gambians have voted for change so Barrow should start delivering change. And by that I mean real change, a real breakaway from the Jammeh era because anything less than that will be letting people down. If Mr Barrow is serious about changing institutions in the Gambia for the better then he should appoint new talent to head those institutions to bring in the much needed structural and cultural changes. It will be very difficult for him to achieve any meaningful change if the same people who where responsible for the current appalling state of those institutions are entrusted with delivering change.

ITS’ NOT TALKING OR WRITING ABOUT INNOCUOUS ISSUES. READ THIS ARTICLE AND COME OUT OF THE DITCH WITH YOUR SENSELESS SUPPORT OF A GOVERNMENT IN MAKING THAT WOULD ONLY CORRUPT THE PEOPLE AND ABUSE THE CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSES. IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE WORST TO COME.
Babu Soli

Scribe Strategies & Advisors Retained by New Government of the Gambia Troubled Transition from Jammeh to Barrow Contrasts with Trump Inaugural (WASHINGTON, January 20, 2017) — Scribe Strategies & Advisors today announced that it has been engaged…
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February 1, 2017
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Scribe Strategies & Advisors Retained by New Government of the Gambia

Troubled Transition from Jammeh to Barrow Contrasts with Trump Inaugural

(WASHINGTON, January 20, 2017) — Scribe Strategies & Advisors today announced that it has been engaged by the new Government of the Republic of the Gambia to represent its interests in the United States.

In a filing with the Foreign Agents Registration Act unit of the U.S. Department of Justice, Scribe stated that it “has been retained by the Government of the Republic of the Gambia for a period of twelve months to communicate with the Trump Administration about the legitimacy of the election of President Adama Barrow and to assure that the will of the Gambian people will be respected.”

To this end, the document continues, Scribe “will work closely with His Excellency Sheikh Omar Faye, the Ambassador of the Gambia to the United States, in assessing the political situation in the Republic of the Gambia, in order to effectively promote and restore the rule of law and democratic governance in the Gambia, as well as to work diligently to solidify and expand the Gambia’s productive relationships with the government, businesses, and individuals in the United States.”

Yesterday, then President-elect Adama Barrow, who won a clear victory in the Gambia’s presidential election on December 1, 2016, took the oath of office in the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal, because former President Yahya Jammeh refused to cede his office. West African countries sent troops across the border to enforce the Gambia’s constitution and the will of the voters.

“The Gambia faces many challenges after 22 years of virtual dictatorship by a mercurial and impulsive head of state,” said Scribe president Joseph J. Szlavik. “The transfer of power to a freely elected president is a harbinger of a peaceful, prosperous, and stable future for the country known as ‘the smile of Africa.’”

Szlavik added that the troubled political situation in the Gambia “stands in stark contrast to the peaceful and smooth transition from the government of Barack Obama to Donald J. Trump, which has happened every four years since 1797, as acknowledged by President Trump in his inaugural address. Gambia has not been blessed in this manner – yet.”

In months to come, according to the FARA filing, Scribe will provide strategic advice with the aim of “strengthening the Gambia’s general bilateral relations with the United States, its government, and institutions. Scribe will also assist in communicating priority issues in the United States-Gambia bilateral relationship to relevant U.S. audiences, including the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch, news media, businesses, and policy community, including think tanks, advocacy groups, and academic institutions).”

For more than 25 years, Scribe Strategies & Advisors has provided strategic consulting services to overseas clients, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Its clients have included businesses, political parties, and governments in Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, and other countries. In the aftermath of the 1994 coup d’etat led by Yahya Jammeh, Scribe represented former Gambian President Sir Dawda Jawara as he sought to restore democracy and legitimate governance to his country.

This material is distributed by Scribe Strategies and Advisors on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Gambia. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Editors note: President Adama Barrow’s Transition government could not be reached for comment. The purported lobbying deal, which is said to be in millions, was never brought to the attention of the Gambian public despite the daily press briefings conducted by the new government. We hope the new government will shed light on the story in the interest of accountability, transparency, and probity.

This guy, [Bloody] Yanks Badgie should be deprived of his own freedom, and made to eat his own poo, for breakfast lunch and dinner for as long as he lives. He is a vile man- heartless, soulless and, I don’t think even EBLISH would want to have anything to do with him. He is a spent force, and I resent every extra Gambian Dalasi to be spent on him from now on. He is more evil than Idi Amin dada and he knows it. He has no redeeming features and should be left to perish in his own soullessness. He is detestible and he is deplorable and, just the sight of that creep drains of enormous energy and even faith in God, let alone humanity. He and his blood stained hands belongs in HEEEELL!

Babu, the story seems dodgy to me because Barrow was NOT in office to make such a deal – and the Gambian Ambassador mention was already FIRED by Jammeh. So how can he be acting for Barrow??

Buba, Barrow has NOT just changed name. He has appointed new BOSS and there is a new CODE of CONDUCT.

Scared: Due Process and Rule of Law must be followed. You are advocating what the USA Police are doing to BLACKS – shoot them dead. Even Yankuba Badgie must have a trial and a good lawyer to defend him when charged.

Dormu Rewwum Gambia thanks for shedding light on the fact that a new Boss has been appointed. That was never mentioned in the press release. Transparency comes to mind. However that’s a very welcome news. The new Boss should work with PMO to create a job description and person specification for all the agents then start recruiting new agents and insist on all the current agents to re-apply for their jobs. This will be the best way to remove the chaff from the wheat and also make the agency accountable to the public.

Apparently the new president never had any previous run ends with the NIA or spent any time in Mile 2. If he had, I am sure he would be singing a different song.
EVERYONE that worked at the NIA under Yahya is a criminal. They may not have pulled a trigger, raped or tortured but if they worked there they heard things, they knew things and covered them up or did not say anything. This is an accessory to the crime and these people are just as guilty as the person the committed the crime.
IF President Barrow is so determined to have a spy agency he should terminate every last one of them and start with a clean slate. Hire new blood. Everyone that is still there from the previous administration is dirty!

Buba and Stan, you have both raised valid points here.
Questions to add are, why the new republic needs a separate spy agency?
Do we have the resources to support a revamped NIA?
Can’t the budgetary allocation for the existing NIA be spent on more pressing needs?
The practice of running “Black Boxes” aka slush funds (cookie jar) at the NIA adds to malfeasance in the work place! We can’t keep the hands of officials out of this cookie jar.
Why, in Buba’s words shouldn’t the new government take it upon themselves to sort the wheat from the chaff where this is required?
This is where previous Gambian governments and structures/arms failed woefully for there’s no evidence or concrete action(s) to prove that the capacity or will to sort WHEAT from CHAFF ever existed in the first place.
Let me put it bluntly. The PPP and APRC governments and officials loved chaos because they thrived and benefited from chaos plus the ad hoc measures put in place by successive governments (Adhocracy).
Task forces, Think Tanks, Project Coordinating Group, Economic and Social Council and Recovery Commissions are all designed to undertake responsibilities or tackle issues that are staring everyone in the eyes. All these bodies do is meetings, meetings, workshops and retreats. However, all it takes is for the government of the day to take charge, nip the ills in the bud (sort out the wheat from the chaff) and throw out the straw. It’s called informed decision making folks.
Where a national project such as Jahally-Pacharr or Agricultural Enterprise Support Project fails, there’s no need to design a follow up project to “consolidate” the gains made under the former when it is abundantly clear that no gains were made in the first place. All that projects do is add to big government and graft. Enough of the endless borrowing for projects (slush funds/honey pots)
A writer, Lamin Jassey Conteh, commented on the need for smaller government. He couldn’t be more apt. As long as the government of the day continues to keep a finger in every pie, the concept of smaller, leaner and more efficient government can never be attained.
Mustafa Njai, a self made Gambian businessman that ran a successful business but was run out of town by untenable decrees, proposed the building of capacities in support of both the public and private sectors by enacting strong fiscal policies with teeth. I have no relation to Mustafa but this is a fellow that understands both the formal and informal sectors, has the right perspective and best of all, has his head in the right place. The likes of Mustafa could be valuable assets in crafting and steering policies and programs on the ground.
We must all note that “Enabling Environments” and incentives alone are not enough just as a a blanket and opaque Poverty Alleviation Program doesn’t serve the intended purpose(s). In Mustafa’s words, there’s a huge untapped intellectual capacity to steer the affairs of a Private Sector Led Economy in The Gambia. The gentleman couldn’t be more on point.
Let’s reduce the size of our cumbersome and unwieldy government agencies if we are to make headway in turning this economy around.
For once Mr Adama Barrow and Coalition Partners, let’s give this strategy a try! If it takes rocking the Gambian boat, please do so!!
There’s an ample supply of folks in the private sector and diaspora, that aren’t making any demands or jockeying for favors, to help the new Gambia do just that. Certainly, Mustafa Njai does not need any compensation.
Thank you Stan, Buba, Mustafa, and Lamin Conteh.